Apparatus for fastening together materials, fabrics, cloths or articles of clothing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus used as a fastener of temporary and/or permanent button replacement. The use of the fastener is to be utilized but not limited to securing fabrics, cloth, material or articles of clothing together by means of the fastener. By sticking the pin/post portion of the apparatus through the fabric, cloth, material or clothing and securing the pin/post with the clasp on the other side of the fabric, cloth, material or article of clothing, allowing the fastener to hold itself in place on the fabric, cloth material or article of clothing. The user can use the fastener as a temporary and/or permanent button solution with or without buttonholes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/159,672 filed Jun. 23, 2005 which claims the benefit of the filing date of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/585,551 filed Jul. 2, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the filed of fasteners/sewing notions used to enhance, replace or fix various material, fabric, cloth or clothing items, the apparatus is a fastener to temporarily and/or permanently act as a button replacement. Moreover it pertains specifically as an apparatus for fastening articles of material, fabric, cloth or clothing together at various points on the pieces of clothing by means of attaching areas together in a secure manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various fasteners and sewing notions are used to temporarily and/or permanently fix or enhance articles of clothing. This invention/fastener is simple, fast and functional. Shirts are one of the primary articles of clothing that can utilize this invention. When you loose a button off your shirt, this invention/fastener acts as the temporary button replacement until you can sew on another button. People lose buttons all the time and the need to fix or replace is necessary in order to wear the shirt properly.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The most common method to fix a button is to sew it back to the original garment, fabric, cloth or material by using a needle and thread. This method is time tested and works but is not convenient, simple or fast. The need to carry with you at all time a needle and thread is not practical for most. The use of a sewing machine is functional but not very common in today's household and hard to carry around with you. When a button is lost there is then a need for a needle, thread and button in order to make the garment wearable.

In today's busy schedules most people take their shirts to the cleaners to have the button sewn. If they don't utilize the dry cleaners, sew themselves or have somebody sew it on for them, the shirt is retired. The limitations involved with prior art are simplified and eliminated with the invention of the temporary button replacement.

With this invention, the temporary button replacement is simply pinned into the shirt where the original button was and the clasp attaches to the pin portion of the fastener on the underside of the garment, fabric, cloth or material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the limitations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and useful fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement which is simpler in construction, more universally usable and more versatile in operation than known apparatus of this kind.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement. This invention has novel features not offered by prior art. The results are a new fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement device which is not apparent, obvious, or suggested, either directly or indirectly by any of the prior art.

The present invention consists of three components: Button, Tack/Pin Post and Clutch/Clasp. Using an adjoining method, the post with the flat head (pin/tack shaped component) is secured at its flat base to the flat base of the other flat round component (button shape). The third component is a flat round clutch/clasp that has side clamps to hold itself securely to the pin/post portion of the other component that has been adjoined to the flat base of the flat round component, when pushing the clasp down to the post of the pin component. The interlocking of the post/pin with the clasp allows the apparatus/invention to secure two pieces of fabric/clothing together.

The foregoing has outlined, in general, the physical aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understand the more complete detailed description, which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or detail of construction, fabrication, material, or application of use described and illustrated herein. Any other variation of fabrication, use, or application should be considered apparent as an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings further describe by illustration the advantages and objects of the present invention. Each drawing is referenced by corresponding figure reference characters within the ‘DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION” section to follow:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement solution according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement solution according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement solution according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement solution according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now descriptively to the drawings, the attached figures illustrate a fastener that temporarily and/or permanently acts as a button replacement solution.

FIG. 4 illustrates the side view of the fastener, according to the present invention fastener is used to secure together pieces of material, fabric, cloth or clothing.

The present invention consists of three main components 10, 20 and 30, as seen in FIG. 1 (perspective view). Using an adhesive, component 10 on the flat side 18 is secured permanently to the flat side 28 of component 20. The third component 30 has a flat round surface 38 with a hole in the center 32. The other side of the clasp component 30 has side clamps 35 to secure the pin/post portion 25 of the other component 20 when pushed through 32. The interlocking of the post/pin 25 through the hole 32 at the flat base 38 of the clasp component 30 allows the apparatus/invention to secure two pieces of material, fabric, cloth or clothing 50 together. FIG. 4 allows for a side view of all components with the inclusion of 50. Item 50 represents the fabric, material, cloth or pieces of clothing that is secured together.

It will also be understood that, in addition to fastening articles of clothing together at various points on the pieces of material, fabric, cloth or clothing by means of attaching areas together in a secure manner, the device can be used as a fastener to clasp together any type of material, fabric or cloth in which a button, snap, clasp or similar sewing notion may be used.

It is further intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size or material which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustration contained herein yet are considered apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for manufacture of a button replacement fastener comprising: providing a button defining a flat surface; providing a pin comprising a pin head having a flat surface configured to mate with the flat surface of the button and a pin post extending from the pin head, wherein the pin post has a smooth outer surface; attaching the flat surface of the button to the flat surface of the pin head with an adhesive such that only the adhesive and the flat surface of the button contact the flat surface of the pin head; and providing a clasp having a bore configured to receive the pin post and at least one clamp for securing the pin post within the bore.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one clamp has an unlocked position for allowing the pin post to be inserted into the bore and a locked position for securing the pin post within the bore.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the clasp has two clamps.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pin post has a sharpened tip configured to pierce fabric.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pin head is attachable to the flat surface of the button such that the flat surface of the pin head can be positioned at any location on the flat surface of the button and contact the flat surface of the button in its entirety.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flat surface of the button defines an entire side of the button.
 7. A method for manufacture of a button replacement fastener comprising: providing a button defining a first surface wherein the first surface is flat and defines an entire side of the button; providing a pin comprising a pin head having a flat surface configured to mate with the first surface of the button and a pin post extending from the flat surface of the pin, wherein the pin post has a smooth outer surface; attaching the flat surface of the button to the flat surface of the pin head with an adhesive; and providing a clasp having a channel configured to receive the pin post and at least one clamp for securing the pin post within the channel.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one clamp has an unlocked position for allowing the pin post to be inserted into the bore and a locked position for securing the pin post within the bore.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the clasp has two clamps.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the pin post has a sharpened tip configured to pierce fabric.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the pin head is attachable to the flat surface of the button such that the flat surface of the pin head can be positioned at any location on the flat surface of the button and contact the flat surface of the button in its entirety.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the attachment between the button and the pin is maintained only by the adhesive. 